Certificate Forgery: NECO Launches E-Verification Portal

By Lateef Taiwo

National Examinations Council (NECO) has unveiled an Online Result Verification platform called NECO e-Verify aimed at guaranteeing instant authentication of NECO results and prevention of certificate forgery.

Speaking during the event on Thursday in Abuja Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi stated that prior to the launch, all requests for verification or confirmation of results were routed through the Council’s Headquarters in Minna.

He noted that the process always takes longer time due to the growing need for verification and confirmation of results by institutions both home and abroad.

“From available records at our disposal, we have observed that there were requests for verification and confirmation of results from sixty-four (64) institutions across thirty-seven countries over a two-year period (2020-2022). Similarly, we have such requests from seventy-two institutions in Nigeria within the same period-this is besides requests from individuals which are numerous,” he said.

He added that the main goal of the system is to prevent educational institutions, employers and other agencies from granting admission or hiring unqualified persons that may hinder the ease of achieving set goals.

“By verifying the authenticity of candidates’ results, academic institutions and employers will be more confident that they are admitting and hiring persons who have the required qualification for further studies and specific job schedules,” he said.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr David Adejo, stated that the launched platform aligned with the ministerial plan of the ministry adding it will aid discourage fraud and promote excellence in education.

While commending the Council for the launch, the perm secretary mandated all heads of educational institutions to make use of the app to verify all candidates for admission.

The event which was chaired by the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Alon Eyakenyi was attended by stakeholders in the education sector.